Means for automatically lifting the lids of journal-poxes of trains



J. J. BRINK. MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY LIFTING THE LIDS OFJOURNAL BOXES 0F TRAINS. APPLICATION FILED OCT. II. 1919. 1332797. Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1- ATTORNEY.

J. l. BRINK'. MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY LIFTING THE LIDS OF JOURNAL BOXESOF TRAINS. APPLICATION FILED OCT. II. I919.

1 ,332,797 Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J J. BRINK- MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY LIFTING THE LIDS OFJOURNAL Boxgs 0F TRAINS. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11' 1919- 1,332,797.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 n-nnn\nl\nnnnnI...

JOSEPH J. BRINK, 0F W-AMAC, ILLINOIS.

MEANSFOR AUTOMATICALLY LIFTING'THE'LIDS- 'OF JOURNAL-BOXES OF TRAINS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented- Mar. 2, 1920. T

Application filed October 11, 1919. Serial No. 329,912.

To all whomit'may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrrr J: ERIN]; residing at l/Vamac, in the county of Clinton andnState of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Means for Automatically Lifting the Lids of J ournal-Boxes of Trains of which the following is a specification.

This invention"comprehends the provision of means for automatically lifting or raising the lids ofjournal boXes ona train as the latter pulls into'a' station for inspection thus providingfor the inspection ofa maximum number of cars during a predetermined length of time.

The nature and advantagesof theinventionwi'll be better understood when thefollowing detail descriptionistaken in connection' with'the accompanying drawings, the

invention residing 'in' the construction, combination" and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings: forming part of this specification like numerals of reference ind'icate similarparts in the several views and' wherein:

Figurel is a top plannview of a track showing" the mechanism associated therewith.

Fig; 2' is'a transverse sectional view:

Fig." 3 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the manner of raising the lid by means of the (mechanism forming the :subj ect matter of my 'inventlonr Fig: 4 is an" enlarged'detail View of the lid engaging element.

Referring to the .drawiniin detail, 10 1n-v dicates the rails of a trac while 11 5 indicates a pit arranged beneath the' rails of a moved vertically into engagement "with the lid A of the journal box for lifting the lat ter to; permit inspectionfof the brass; 1t might here be-stated' that-the arm 12 1s yieldably, maintained" in" inactive position within the pit, and ismoved to an'operative position by a'car actuated means which'wil'l hereinafter "be'more fully described, it being understood that the lids of the journal boxes are opened in successive order while the train is in motion or pulling into a station for inspection. The arm 12 slides through guides 13 which maintain the arm in proper position within the pit'and directs the lat ter in its movement towardandaway from the journal boxes. As shown the arm is' preferably provided with an enlarged or relatively wide upper extremity 14 terminating'to provide a finger '15a-nd having a plurality of teeth 16 which insures its proper association or engagement with the lip'V'of the lidof thejournal box when the arm is elevated to raise the latter. The arm is preferably made'in two sections, the main section 112 whichis formed withsocketsl? at the upper end thereof and a relatively movable section 12 which is provided with a ball 18 at the lower end thereof,-the ball and" socket connection between therespective sections-permitting the arm to be flexed" when the occasion requires. A pluralityiof springs 19 having-their corresponding terminals connected with a cross pin 20 carried by the movable section 12, while the oppo-' site end of these springs are secured'to a similar pin 21 on the arm 12, the springs" functionatingto' maintain the movable section 12 normally in alinement' with the main section 12 "of the arm. Should the lid engaging element be elevated for the pur pose of raising the lid ofa journal box, and instead of coming in contact with the'lid' engage some stationary partofthe car the movable section 12 could be swung upon its ball and socket connectionwith the main section 12"todi'sengage the lid engagingele ment from the obstruction and arrangeit so itwould engage the-lid: Al Manifestly the springs 19' would immediately return the movable section 12 into axial alinement withthe'main section 12; subsequentto the release of the movable section;

As illustrated, there are two of these arms used at the opposite sides of the; track so'th'at the journal boXesfor each pair'of Wheels have their lids -elevatedior opened simultaneously. The caroperatedmechanism'for' elevating the lid engaging element at each: side of the track is identical and-'the-brief description of one will suffice for both:-

Engaging the'base of eachrail is a clamp 22 terminating at one end'to provide an ex-- tension 23 'dep'end-ingfrom the clamp in the direction of the pit 11. The extension 23',}'}jacent section of 'the lid engaging element. is bifurcated at its lower end, and pivoted-11in other Words, when the lid engaging elebetween the separated portions 24 defined by said bifurcation, is a lever 25. The leveri is pivoted adjacent one of its ends, while,

ljment is elevated to raise or open the lid of :the ournalbox, the pin 38 engages the teeth -.;37 of the arms 36 and is thereby held in a the lever proper extends beneath the raill iiposition so that when the lid engaging eleand has its opposite end connected with theiz 12 thereof ,of the path of the opened lid and will not by means of a link 26. A shaft 27 is jourlid engaging element or section naled beneath the rails of the track and 28. Each end of the shaft projects an ap-j ment is retracted to normal position it is out close the latterwhen the arm is retracted. It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 1, that the shaft 27 may be rotated to posidotted lines, which is the inactive position ing formed to provide spaced track portionsition the plate 30 in the manner indicated by preciable distance beyond the ends of the,

of the train over the track without efiecting a plate 30 which in active position as shown} by full lines in Fig. 1 has its free end over- 1 lying the adjacent end of the levers 25. A'- rod 31 rises from one end of the lever 25, and in the active position of parts, this rod 31 terminates immediately beneath the adjacent end of the plate 30. The rod 31 is susceptible of sliding movement relative to the lever through an opening 32 therein, for a purpose to be presently set forth. The rod has a nut associated therewith which is indicated at 33 and adapted to engage the underside of the lever 25 to hold\ the rod associated with the lever, the spring 34: en-

circling the rod and having one end bearing against the lever and the opposite end connected with the rod to hold the latter in active position with relation to the plate 30. The plates 30 are adapted to be depressed by the wheels of the car as the latter passes over the plate, and as the plates are depressed, they are brought into engagement with the rod 31, which imparts a rocking movement to the lever 25 in a direction to elevate the lid engaging element 12 to a position whereby the lids of the journal boxes are, automatically raised to an open position. During this operation, the springs 34 provide for a rigidconnection between the plate 30 and the lever 25 being properly tensioned for this purpose. However, should the arm or lid engaging element 12 strike a rigid part of the car while it is being elevated retarding the movement of the arm, the spring 34 will yield under the weight of the car allowing the rod 31 to slide through the opening in the lever 25, and thus preventing breakage of any part of the mechanism. After the wheels have passed from the plates 30, a spring 35 connected with one of the guiding elements 13 and with the lever 25, functions to automatically eoreturn the parts'to normal position for effectin operation.

rojecting from the other side of each clamp 22 are spaced parallel arms 36 each add il'consider "lnvention, I desire to have it understood of the plate, so as to permit the movement n operation of the lid of the mechanism.

While I have shown and described what I the preferred embodiment of the that the same is merely illustrative, and that I do not limit myself to theexact construction and arrangement of parts disclosed, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What I claim is 1. Means for automatically lifting the lids of journal boxes of 'a train in motion, including a lid engaging element, and train operated means for actuating said element;

2. Means for automatically lifting the lids of journal boxes of a train while in mo-,

tion, including lid engaging elements arranged adjacent each rail of the track, and car operated means for simultaneously actuating said element.

3. Means for lifting the lids of journal boxes of a train in motion, including a lid engaging element, car operated means for actuating the element to raise the lid, and means for automatically returning the element to normal position at a predetermined interval.

4:. Means for lifting the lids of journal boxes of a moving train, including a reciprocating lid engaging element, a car operated means for actuating said element, includinga yieldable member and a connection between said element and actuating means therefor.

5. Means for automatically lifting the lids of journal boxes of a moving train, including a lid engaging element normally arranged below the track and capable of vertical movement, car operated means for elevating said element to active position, and means for automatically returning the element to'normal position at a predetermined interval.

6. Means for automatically lifting the mally holding said sections in alinement and car operated means for actuating said element.

7. Means for automatically lifting the lids of journal boxes of a train while in motion, including a vertically movable lid engaging element, said element comprising a fixed section and a relatively movable section adapted to be swung at an angle with respect to the fixed section, yieldable means for normally holding said sections in axial alinement, and car actuated means for actuating said element.

8. Means for automatically lifting the lids of journal boxes of a train while in motion, including a lid engaging element arranged beneath the track and capable of vertical adjustment, means for actuating said element including a car actuated element, a connection between the actuating.

element and the lid engaging element for raising the latter, and yieldable means for automatically returning the parts to normal position at a predetermined interval.

9. Means for automatically lifting "the lids of journal boxes of a train while in motion, including a vertically movable lid engaging element, means for actuating said element including a member adapted to be depressed by the Wheels of the car, a conpressed by the wheels of the car, a connec- I tion between said member and lid engaging element for elevating the latter when said member is depressed, and said connection including yieldable means to permit said member to be depressed independently of movement of the lid engaging element.

11. Means for automatically lifting the lids of journal boxes of a train while in motion, including a vertically movable lid engaging element, car operated means for actuating said element, including a member arranged adjacent the track and adapted to be depressed by the wheels of the car, a shaft journaled beneath the track and having a crank portion, said member being connected with said crank portion, and means for simultaneously actuating said elements.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

JOSEPH J. BRINK. 

